Bureau of Industry and Security Adds 36 Parties to Entity List for Actions Involving Illegal Shipments of Goods to Iran and China

Bureau of Industry and Security Adds 36 Parties to Entity List for Actions

Involving Illegal Shipments of Goods to Iran and China

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today added 36 companies and individuals to the Entity List https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/12/12/2013-28663/addition-of-certain-persons-to-the-entity-list-amendment-of-entity-list-entries-and-removal-of-one for engaging in actions contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. BIS's Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) conducted investigations that revealed the companies and individuals engaged in a series of actions involving illicit shipments of U.S-origin goods to Iran and prohibited end-users in China.

"We are committed to using every available method to prevent illicit diversions from harming our national security," said Under Secretary of Commerce Eric L. Hirschhorn. "This is an example of how BIS's unique authorities and compliance tools can help exporters safeguard their transactions."

The Entity List provides notice to the public about entities that have engaged in activities that could result in an increased risk of the diversion of exported, reexported or transferred items to weapons of mass destruction programs, entities sanctioned by the State Department and entities that have acted contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. Today's parties being added to the Entity List today are located in Armenia, Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).

The first group of entities added (Anvik Technologies Sdn. Bhd., Montana Advanced Engineering Sdn Bhd., Albin Technologies Sdn Bhd., Hansen Technologies Limited, and Babak Jafarpour) were involved in purchasing items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) from U.S. companies and having the items shipped via virtual offices and freight forwarders in Hong Kong and Malaysia to Iran in violation of Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations and the EAR. The items purchased included various types of electronics, navigation, and avionics equipment.

The second group of entities (Saeed Talebi, Satco, Satco Corporation, Satco GmbH, Kadin Satco FZE, AAG Makina, and Murat Peker) operated as parts of a procurement ring coordinating the sale and supply of items to Iran in violation of OFAC regulations and the EAR. Saeed Talebi purchased items from U.S. companies and shipped them to Iran via Germany and Turkey. Talebi established businesses in the U.A.E., Germany, and Canada to facilitate his scheme. Murat Peker, an employee of AAG Makina in Turkey, worked with Talebi to facilitate shipments by providing false information to the U.S. Government concerning the final destination of the shipments.

The fourth group of entities (Beijing Tianhua; Tenfine Ltd., Longtek Company, Ltd., FOC (HK) Technology Co. Ltd., and Comsum Technologies (Group) Ltd.) acted as procurement agents for a listed entity, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA), which was added to the Entity List in May 2001 due to its involvement in rocket system and unmanned air vehicles activities.

In addition to listing 36 new entities, BIS removed one person, located in Russia, ECO-MED-SM Ltd, from the Entity List based on a removal request. The decision to remove this person took into account this person's cooperation with the U.S. government, as well as this person's assurances of future compliance with the EAR.

Under Secretary Hirschhorn commended the OEE's Special Agents: "I applaud the work of our Special Agents who pursue violators around the in the world, as evidenced by today's action."